Tuesday, July 31, 2012

I love the combination of ladylike pastels with this snake print scarf. Something about it seems so wrong but so right. In the summer months as the temperatures rise we have to find creative ways to accessorize while still beating the heat. While in the winter months dressing is easier because we can pile on layers and different textures to keep things chic.

What I love most about a maxi dress is the fact that you can dress it up or down with simple accessories. In the past when wearing this dress I paired it with a red sweater and chucky sandals and took the casual route. Today I decided to glam it up a bit with a pearl cluster necklace and gold accessories. Since red is a bit cliché with blue and white stripes I decided to swap it out for coral, which happens to be one of my favorite colors of the season.

Friday, July 27, 2012

There are a few key rules that every fashion girl must learn early on in her career/life. One of the most important rules being when to splurge on something and when to save or hold out for a sale, or a "steal", as some like to call it. Today as I was perusing the net-a-porter website (as I often do) I stumbled upon a lovely little shoe by Jimmy Choo that looked strikingly similar to the Steve Madden pair that I recently purchased. Sure these two shoes have their differences; an obvious one would be the thickness of their heels and height of the platforms. But the biggest differences of all are the prices. I always say I only splurge on classics so this is why I purchased the pretty Steve Madden's for a cool $44.99and I absolutely love them (as seen inthispost). What do you think? Is this style really timeless enough to pay the price?

Thursday, July 26, 2012

I have wanted to try my hand at the cropped top paired with high-waisted pants (or shorts or a skirt) for some time now. I'm typically not a fan of a bare midriff. However, I find that if it's high up (around the waist) and you pair it with something high-waisted it really has a more polished look. It's a little out of my comfort zone, but every once in a while, you've gotta shake things up a bit.

A Keene Sense of Style is new to the Facebook community and it would mean so much to me if you could take a moment to visit my page and "Like" it, if you feel so inclined. I would greatly appreciate your support. As always, thank you so much for reading!

Today's look is another casual crisp summer outfit. I love this sheer polka dot blouse because it's soft and feminine while also being very versatile. I paired it with black shorts and black pumps making it perfect for daytime or warm summer nights.

On a different note, today while I was shooting pictures (I take my own photos with a tri-pod unless otherwise stated) I shot the majority of them in the wrong setting, this is why the first two photos look kind of Instagram-ish. I finally realized towards the end and changed my camera to the right setting. For some weird reason I kind of liked how they turned out so I decided to share a few of them with you anyways. Oh well, tomorrow's a new day and a new outfit.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

I love mixing prints and I happen to think that flowers and stripes are a perfect pair. In order to mix prints and get good results, I recommend staying in the same color family and making sure that your prints are the same scale (if you have big flowers wear big stripes).However, once you become a pro (or a mixologist, if you will) you will be able to mix anything that your heart desires with ease.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Happy Monday! I decided to wear a clean and simple work look today that I spiced up with two great colors. I added a green waist cinching belt and a bold red bag to keep this monochromatic look from looking boring. However, I do love seeing head to toe neutrals in the summer months like white and cream. Also, I mixed textures by pairing an easy silk blouse with a structured pencil skirt.

On another note, I am so happy about my new 3.1 Phillip Lim bag! You know when you have been eyeing something for months and months and then you finally have it? It's just so exciting! Just what I need to cure my case of the Monday's.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

The dangling love hearts on this lovely little jacket remind me of flower petals. I love pairing something really feminine with "edgy" accessories. I stuck with black and added studded shoes (which I didn't get a single good picture of, but they're the same ones from this post). Also, I have had these gorgeous sunglasses for the longest time and I never wear them (what's wrong with me?). After seeing them today, i'm definitely going to change that.

I used one royal blue racer back tank to create two very different looks. The first look can be worn for a more formal occasion, like a fancy dinner date while the other look is casual-chic and perfect for running errands or grabbing lunch with girlfriends. I enlisted the help of chic accompaniments like this beautiful vintage lace applique skirt and a great printed scarf.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

As you already know, I love ladylike fashion. Today I felt so girly in this pretty peplum skirt with matching pastels. I wore bows, blush, and pearls for the ultimate soft and feminine look. I just love being a girly-girl!

I know I'm always talking about ways to maximize your wardrobe. This is because it's awful to buy something and only wear it once, or even worse, to buy something and to not wear it at all. I too am guilty of this fashion crime. However, there are ways to avoid making this mistake. Buy items that can be re-worked to serve multiple purposes. Don't divvy up your wardrobe and say this is my “wear-to-work” section only and this is for weekends or "going out".Maximize your wardrobe by doing things like adding blouses or sweaters over the top part of dresses and wearing skirts as dresses too (like I did here). There are no rules in fashion and as long as you like the way you look when you leave the house, nothing else matters.

In this post I took one pretty, printed dress and wore it as an office appropriate skirt as well as a fun and flirty summer dress. I created my work look by adding structure with a bag and belt and a classy strand of pearls. For my daytime strolling look I added great coral sandals and a cross body bag.

I’m dying to know what tricks you use to maximize your wardrobe. Do tell!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

On Saturday I took part in the 30 Minutes with Three Dots contest where I did some styling at their downtown LA showroom and had the privilege of previewing the fabulous fall collection. I wanted to wear something with great summer colors and a nice fit. Also, it was incredibly hot so I knew I had to beat the heat in style.

I really can't wait to share all of the photos and video from my shoot with all of you! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Thanks so much for reading! Xo

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Although it was warm today, it was also exceptionally gloomy. I guess that here in Los Angeles we are finally getting that “June gloom” that we were fortunate enough to avoid last month. I'm definitely more of a high-sun kind of gal, but it sure was nice to pull out my little striped sweater.

Do you have any cold weather pieces that you really miss during the summer months?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I love this beautiful chain embellished blazer. It's one of those pieces in a wardrobe that can quickly take any outfit up a notch. This piece is so versatile because it can be worn with anything from skinny jeans to a simple sheath dress. I went for a no fuss wear-to-work look by pairing this detailed blazer with a little white dress, and with a trim like that you can keep the accessories to a minimum.